Tackling patients influenced by misinformation on the web

Today we are living in a world of information overload Information is available at the click of a button In pursuit of medical knowledge several patients tend to research about their issues on the internet before seeing a doctor This can be both good and bad Misinformation can lead to trust deficits amongst patients and challenge the doctorpatient relationshipHowever doctors are a resilient breed To tackle the problem of health illiteracy among patients Midday Online spoke to Dr Rajiv Kovil diabetologist chairperson at Zandra Healthcare cofounder of Rang De Neelainitiative He shares causes and measures to prevent patients from falling prey to misleading information available on the internetHere are the edited excerpts from the interviewHave you encountered patients with preconceived notions How do you deal with themCertainly During consultations we come across patients who have become experts in searching for health information online When confronted with such patients I listen intently and try to keep a straight face as they share their theories which can be quite amusing Nonetheless I create a comfortable space for them to share their opinions while also steering them in the direction of evidencebased information This is a tricky balance between debunking their misconceptions while still respecting their beliefsIn your opinion how does a lack of health literacy affect a patients approach to medicineLet me get started by first describing the world of health illiteracy Its like someone driving on an unfamiliar route encounters a spaghetti junction that has six point interchange which exit will the driver take When patients lack health literacy they might not understand medical instructions correctly or get influenced by information available from various sources Its crucial to improve health literacy so that patients can navigate the medical landscape with confidence So improving health literacy is like giving them a GPS to navigate their way to better healthWhy are WhatsApp and social media health posts so compelling to consumersWhatsApp and social media health posts are very appealing Theyre like bitesized pieces of information that are easy to consume especially for people who are always scrolling Plus theres the excitement of sharing these posts with friends and family so everyone can join in the discussion Its like being at a virtual health carnival where you find both valuable information and some mindboggling misinformationWhat percentage of the health information circulating on the web and social media is reliableDetermining the exact percentage of reliable health information on the web and social media is like finding a rare unicorn in a haystack made of cat videos Its challenging to find reliable sources amidst the abundance of unreliable information For every trustworthy source theres also misleading or sensationalized content So its essential to approach everything with skepticism and factchecking Remember Dr Google doesnt have a medical degreeHow can people tackle healthrelated misinformation spreading on social media and the webYoure stepping into the battle against healthrelated misinformation To fight this battle effectively you need to become a truthseeking ninja in the virtual world of chaos Develop your critical thinking skills factcheck the information you come across and rely on reputable sources like your doctor for guidanceHow do you identify a patient influenced by Google informationYou are now asking me how do we spot a secret agent among the crowd Well I look out for telltale signs like an extensive vocabulary of medical jargon and a knack for challenging every diagnosis with their newfound online expertise But at the end of the day I rely on the delicate art of balancing their curiosity with gentle guidance which I have now developed over timeWhat can doctors do to create awareness around health literacy among their patientsDoctors have a critical role in improving the Nations health literacy We need to be equally creative as our newage patients are Patient education should be presented in innovative formats such as a game or an art form or an immersive experience such engagements garner better attention and encourages healthpromoting behaviour In a virtual world doctors can make use of storytelling and poetic narratives after all we are competing with other content creators who have a bag full of misinformation packaged in creativityAlso ReadExperts highlight need to prioritise mental health in healthcare professionals